MTN Group has
welcomed Turkcell’s decision to drop its $4.2 billion lawsuit against MTN
before the US District Court of Columbia over the awarding of Iran’s second
mobile licence to MTN in 2005.
MTN opposed Turkcell’s claim, which hinged on
allegations of bribery, saying it lacked legal merit and that there was no
basis for it to be brought before a US Court.
Yesterday, Turkcell withdrew the claim. This
followed last month’s ruling by the US Supreme Court restricting the ability of
foreign corporations to bring before US courts cases alleging corporate
misconduct that took place outside the United States.
“Turkcell’s decision to drop their claim was expected, however, we
welcome it,”
After becoming aware of Turkcell’s claims in
February last year, the MTN Board commissioned Lord Hoffmann to lead a thorough
investigation into these allegations. Then in February this year, the Committee
led by Lord Hoffmann determined that Turkcell’s allegations were without
foundation. The Committee concluded that they found nothing in the conduct of
MTN that put at question MTN’s integrity or propriety during the period that
Iran’s second mobile licence was awarded.
Dabengwa stressed that MTN has zero tolerance
for corruption and unethical business, and constantly reviews its governance
practices to ensure its actions and those of its employees across its 22
markets are beyond question.
“Now that this case is behind us, we are forging
ahead with great determination towards achieving MTN’s newly launched vision to
deliver a bold new digital world to our customers. MTN is one of Africa’s
success stories, a great company founded on innovation, courage and values of
honesty.
“Our products and services have fundamentally
transformed people’s lives across our markets, and we are proud of MTN’s role
in accelerating the economic development of the countries that we are active in
across Africa and the Middle East,” said Dabengwa.
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